Changes to make Git basics more intuitive

- updated verbiage where appropriate
- changed "git config" commands to include quotes for variables to be more in line with standard practive and to avoid issues with spaces
- updated CHANGELOG as part of commit

2 files changed, 10 insertions, 11 deletions

diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index bee5bc769ca..3a32622ad55 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -323,6 +323,7 @@ v 8.11.7
   - Avoid conflict with admin labels when importing GitHub labels. !6158
   - Restores `fieldName` to allow only string values in `gl_dropdown.js`. !6234
   - Allow the Rails cookie to be used for API authentication.
+  - Updating verbiage on git basics to be more intuitive
 
 v 8.11.6
   - Fix unnecessary horizontal scroll area in pipeline visualizations. !6005
diff --git a/doc/gitlab-basics/start-using-git.md b/doc/gitlab-basics/start-using-git.md
index b61f436c1a4..4f7015f7dbc 100644
--- a/doc/gitlab-basics/start-using-git.md
+++ b/doc/gitlab-basics/start-using-git.md
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 # Start using Git on the command line
 
-If you want to start using a Git and GitLab, make sure that you have created an
-account on GitLab.
+If you want to start using Git and GitLab, make sure that you have created and/or signed into an [account on GitLab](https://gitlab.com/users/sign_in).
 
 ## Open a shell
 
-Depending on your operating system, find the shell of your preference. Here are some suggestions.
+Depending on your operating system, you will need to use a shell of your preference. Here are some suggestions:
 
 - [Terminal](http://blog.teamtreehouse.com/introduction-to-the-mac-os-x-command-line) on  Mac OSX
 
@@ -22,19 +21,19 @@ Type the following command and then press enter:
 git --version
 ```
 
-You should receive a message that will tell you which Git version you have in your computer. If you don’t receive a "Git version" message, it means that you need to [download Git](https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/Getting-Started-Installing-Git).
+You should receive a message that will tell you which Git version you have on your computer. If you don’t receive a "Git version" message, it means that you need to [download Git](https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/Getting-Started-Installing-Git).
 
 If Git doesn't automatically download, there's an option on the website to [download manually](https://git-scm.com/downloads). Then follow the steps on the installation window.
 
-After you finished installing, open a new shell and type "git --version" again to verify that it was correctly installed.
+After you are finished installing, open a new shell and type "git --version" again to verify that it was correctly installed.
 
 ## Add your Git username and set your email
 
-It is important because every Git commit that you create will use this information.
+It is important to configure your Git username and email address as every Git commit that you create will use this information to identify who has submitted the commit.
 
 On your shell, type the following command to add your username:
 ```
-git config --global user.name ADD YOUR USERNAME
+git config --global user.name "your_username_as_you_want_it_to_appear"
 ```
 
 Then verify that you have the correct username:
@@ -44,7 +43,7 @@ git config --global user.name
 
 To set your email address, type the following command:
 ```
-git config --global user.email ADD YOUR EMAIL
+git config --global user.email "your_email_address@domain"
 ```
 
 To verify that you entered your email correctly, type:
@@ -52,7 +51,7 @@ To verify that you entered your email correctly, type:
 git config --global user.email
 ```
 
-You'll need to do this only once because you are using the "--global" option. It tells Git to always use this information for anything you do on that system. If you want to override this with a different username or email address for specific projects, you can run the command without the "--global" option when you’re in that project.
+You'll need to do this only once as you are using the "--global" option. It tells Git to always use this information for anything you do on that system. If you want to override this with a different username or email address for specific projects, you can run the command without the "--global" option when you’re in that project.
 
 ## Check your information
 
@@ -76,7 +75,7 @@ git pull REMOTE NAME-OF-BRANCH -u
 (REMOTE: origin) (NAME-OF-BRANCH: could be "master" or an existing branch)
 
 ### Create a branch
-Spaces won't be recognized, so you need to use a hyphen or underscore.
+Spaces won't be recognized, so you will need to use a hyphen or underscore.
 ```
 git checkout -b NAME-OF-BRANCH
 ```
@@ -127,4 +126,3 @@ You need to be in the master branch.
 git checkout master
 git merge NAME-OF-BRANCH
 ```
-